Editor’s note: Salisbury native David Freeze is running across the state from Murphy to Manteo. The Post is chronicling each day of his journey. Contact him at david.freeze@ctc.net.

On a day that started out cold and got wet, I had a dilemma. Up until too late the night before, I was trying to figure out Tuesday’s route. I put off a final decision for the day’s destination until early afternoon. More on that later.

Out early Tuesday morning and expecting a long day, I was quickly back on U.S. 64 Bypass. Again, it was much like an interstate with U.S. 64, U.S. 264, Bypass 495 and Interstate 87 all listed and sometimes operating on as many as five lanes.

Traffic was heavy and loud. I passed by Knightdale and finally arrived at Zebulon, where my afternoon direction had to be chosen.

Little happened early in the day except the cold persisted and rain joined in from time to time. I did get a morning visit from Deputy Sheriff Evans from the Wake County Sheriff’s Office because it had received a call about my “baby.”

He was another good guy, and I enjoyed filling him in on what I was doing.

Kenny Flowers checked on me to see if I needed a ride toward Wilson. I told him that I was probably headed that way. Kenny was the first to ask, “Why?” He was certainly not the last.

I kept using my phone to check routes and available motels along with the mileage to each.
I even called the town offices in Nashville, Zebulon and Spring Hope to see about lodging.

Peter Asciutto, one of my sponsors, was checking too because of long-term travels in the area as a vacuum cleaner salesman. Rocky Mount on U.S. 64 was way too far to make it in a day, and Wilson was a long shot on U.S. 264.

At Zebulon, I made the choice to go to Wilson with the help of Tia Hooker of Cary. She stopped and backed up to see if I needed help, and we had an enjoyable talk. With her information, I headed to Wilson and hoped to get there by dark.

What happened next was more solid evidence that my fellow man is still amazing and willing to help out. After already visiting with Kenny and Tia, I starting plugging away toward Wilson on U.S. 264. More wonderful encounters happened.

Courtney Farmer of Wilson works close to where I spent the night in Raleigh, and she had seen me early Tuesday morning. Having worried about me all day, she made sure to find me in the afternoon.

She had tears in her eyes when I told her I wanted to do this. I thanked her for being a good woman and for caring so much. I thought that would be the last.

Next came Natalie Newcomb of Lucama, who wanted to help. We had yet another wonderful discussion and took advantage of my new selfie skills. Natalie gave me some extra insight on where I was going near Wilson and later came back again to make sure I was going to find the motel OK. Thank you Natalie! I did find it.

Shortly afterward, just before dark, Roberto and Jose stopped to ask if I would accept a ride. Of course I couldn’t, and after answering “Why?” again, they seemed satisfied and headed on down the road,

I made my turn on U.S. 264 Alternate and found the Microtel and got the last room just ahead of another guy who wanted it.

In the dark, one more new friend stopped and said, “I just saw you yesterday in Raleigh. Why?”

It is this kind of day that makes me sure that my fellow man and woman are just the same as they have always been, good and kind. There was an extra hop in my step as I did the last mile.

I got some stuff at McDonald’s next door and some free cookies at the Microtel desk and raced to my room to get a start on my story.

My legs were worn out after 38 plus miles, and I had not even thought about my route for today.

Tuesday was a great day, one that I will always remember. It is common for folks to ask to help on my bike rides but never to this extent in one day. I consider myself very blessed.

For a little bit of humor to end the day’s story, I got stopped one more time Tuesday, this time by Nash County Deputy Smith. He actually asked for my ID as I had been accused again of running away with a baby, but this time as a woman.

Monday’s haul in change was $1.11, and Tuesday’s was just 45 cents.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Tuesday’s happenings as much I enjoyed being part of it. See you here tomorrow as I head back to U.S. 64.